<p>It has only been one month since the declaration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but already the CIVICUS Monitor is documenting an alarming deterioration in civic space across 40 countries. A&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://monitor.civicus.org/COVID19/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1587444730621000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGC-RwDkf7IVrVGh8EUUfraM74xcg" href="https://monitor.civicus.org/COVID19/" target="_blank">new brief</a>&nbsp;released today by the CIVICUS Monitor, shows that many governments are responding to the pandemic in an unjustifiable and unnecessary manner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A new report by CIVICUS Monitor, a global research collaboration which rates and tracks respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries, shows that the assault on civil society and fundamental freedoms has persisted in Asia.</p>

<p>Manushya Foundation, CIVICUS and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) call on the Government of Lao PDR to remove all unwarranted restrictions on civic space in the country ahead of its human rights review to be held at the United Nations (UN) in January-February 2020. The review will mark five years since UN member states made 33 recommendations to the Lao government that directly relate to barriers to open civic space. As of today, the government has partially implemented only three recommendations.</p>